Fisherman thanks 'guardian angels' for keeping the sharks away during six hour ordeal at sea after falling overboard trying to save camera

A fisherman has thanked his "guardian angels" for keeping the tiger sharks away during his six hour ordeal in a remote stretch of Australian ocean, after falling overboard while trying to save his GoPro camera.

Ross Chapman, a boilermaker in his 20s, was fishing alone in a boat off North West Cape in Western Australia when he knocked the camera into the water, shortly after hooking and releasing a marlin.

He lunged for the camera and slipped overboard but his boat was in gear and travelled off without him.

He was then left stranded, about 30 nautical miles from shore.

Jeni Gates, a friend, said Mr Chapman grabbed a lure in the water to try to bring the boat in but the vessel was "doing circles around him" and the line eventually snapped.

Ms Gates said Mr Chapman told her he tried to remain calm in the water because "there are a lot of sharks in that area".

"He saw his own boat plus three or four other boats pass him but they didn't see him,” she said.

Local rescue authorities went on a “frantic” search after a boat spotted the empty vessel and called for help.

Authorities eventually found Mr Chapman in the early afternoon after he had been in the water for about six hours.

"He's a regular fisherman in the marlin fishing scene and has been out there quite a bit of time by himself," said Rusty Ellis, the commander of the Exmouth Volunteer Marine Rescue.

Fortunately they did manage to find him… We're very, very very grateful that all the other boats in the region dropped what they were doing and raced over to assist in the searchRusty Ellis

"Fortunately they did manage to find him… We're very, very very grateful that all the other boats in the region dropped what they were doing and raced over to assist in the search."

Mr Chapman, who lives in Exmouth but is originally from Whangarei in New Zealand, was rushed to hospital suffering from hypothermia and shock.

He later posted an update on his Facebook page to thank the people who came to his rescue.

"My emotions are all over the shop at the moment but I am so so thankful to be alive and all the boats out fishing yesterday that dropped everything including fish to come and search for me you are my hero's (SIC)", he wrote.

"Also Jake Boyd and Poppa George for being my guardian angels above and keeping those big tiger sharks away from me I can't thank yous enough."

Authorities said people should be wary of attempting solo voyages in the area.

"If something like this happens, you have nobody to back you up," Mr Ellis said. "Most vessels these days are fitted with safety leads to cut the motor should you fall over and they should be attached to your wrist.